What would my neighbors be like in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?
Chuck Bolotin - Best Mexico Movers
What your neighbors would be like in the Lake Chapala / Ajijic area would of course, depend on where you live. Over all Lakeside (the area from Jocotepec to Chapala, including Ajijic), probably about 80% of the people or so are Mexicans, while only 20% or so are expats.
If you choose to, you could live amongst working-class Mexicans whose occupations range from housekeepers to gardeners to proprietors of small grocery stores and shops or even the guy making pizzas outside in...
What your neighbors would be like in the Lake Chapala / Ajijic area would of course, depend on where you live. Over all Lakeside (the area from Jocotepec to Chapala, including Ajijic), probably about 80% of the people or so are Mexicans, while only 20% or so are expats.
If you choose to, you could live amongst working-class Mexicans whose occupations range from housekeepers to gardeners to proprietors of small grocery stores and shops or even the guy making pizzas outside in Jocotepec, who is pictured above. If you did this, you would have very few neighbors who weren’t part of the group I just described, and as an expat, you would stand out.
You could also live in an area that looks like it could be part of the first group, but has been gentrified to a certain extent in certain areas, for example, the central village of Ajijic area and its surroundings. The houses in this area would tend to be traditional, with some a bit larger and some re-furbished, with a sprinkling of new homes. The lots would tend to be small. Some of the houses are quite spectacular on the inside and some have extensive and beautiful gardens. The homes could be quite expensive, for example, $400,000 for a three-bedroom house with a small garden. The people living in these areas would be quite mixed, from the same housekeepers who lived in the first group who live in a home that may have been in their family for generations, to the upper-middle class American who cashed out of their home in Northern California. As time goes on, the former are selling and the latter are buying.
Another place you could choose to live would be in one of the many fraccionamientos (residential developments ranging in size from less than a dozen houses to several hundred), some of which have their own golf course, pool, tennis, etc. Some fraccionamientos are brand new and others have been around for many decades. Most but not all have some type of security such as a live guard or some type of security gate. In these areas, it is not unusual to have a mix of perhaps 1/3 local Mexicans, 1/3 expats and 1/3 wealthier Mexicans (usually from Guadalajara) who visit only on the weekends, if then. Given that the part-time wealthy Mexicans are so rarely at their second or third home at the lake, the feel is that the area is about evenly split between Mexicans and expats.
The going labor rate in Corozal for manual labor is about $40 BZ per day, which is $20 US. This is for when you’re providing the tools and materials and it’s not skilled labor. If they’re using their own tools you might get into $50 or $60 (US $25 or $30) a day.
There are a lot of folks looking for jobs, so it’s not hard to find people to work in your garden. Most of the Belizeans who I ran across are very hardworking....
The going labor rate in Corozal for manual labor is about $40 BZ per day, which is $20 US. This is for when you’re providing the tools and materials and it’s not skilled labor. If they’re using their own tools you might get into $50 or $60 (US $25 or $30) a day.
There are a lot of folks looking for jobs, so it’s not hard to find people to work in your garden. Most of the Belizeans who I ran across are very hardworking. If they get a job they want to keep. They’re very eager to please.
Sometimes communication is a little difficult simply because English is not their first language, though, nominally, it is the national language of Belize. They all speak it to some degree or another but being able to speak and understand a little Spanish helps.
What is the cost for health insurance in Portugal and how does it work?
Ana Ferraz
A reasonable private health insurance plan in Portugal would cost you between €40 to €60 (US $43.40 to $65.10 or £29 to £44) a month. If you go to a doctor, a regular consultation would cost you around €30 to €40 (US $33 to $44 or £22 to £29) after insurance. This cost is for people who are basically in good health and middle-aged. A full comprehensive insurance plan is about €60 (US $65 or £44) a month. €60 is the minimum. ...
A reasonable private health insurance plan in Portugal would cost you between €40 to €60 (US $43.40 to $65.10 or £29 to £44) a month. If you go to a doctor, a regular consultation would cost you around €30 to €40 (US $33 to $44 or £22 to £29) after insurance. This cost is for people who are basically in good health and middle-aged. A full comprehensive insurance plan is about €60 (US $65 or £44) a month. €60 is the minimum.
The cost of your insurance goes up depending on the clauses that you want to incorporate. For example, some insurance policies do not cover you abroad. A friend of mine pays €120 (US $130 or £87) for health insurance because he travels a lot and he wants to be fully covered when he is traveling in Europe.
The cost of your insurance really depends on how far you want to go. If you just reside in Portugal and you just want basic insurance, the minimum you can get is about €60. There is no deductible. The insurance covers you from the first euro.
(The monastery courtyard of Mosteiro dos Jerónimos Lisbon, Portugal, pictured.)
This is a question I get a LOT! Is the water safe to drink in Nicaragua?
We have lived in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua for 10 years and the entire time we have been drinking Agua Pura. Not sure how pure it is as it often tastes of plastic due to bottles sitting in the sun before they make there way to us. Regardless, we have stuck with the Agua Pura (5 gallon jugs) because we are nervous as are most North Americans to drink tap water. We have heard the...
This is a question I get a LOT! Is the water safe to drink in Nicaragua?
We have lived in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua for 10 years and the entire time we have been drinking Agua Pura. Not sure how pure it is as it often tastes of plastic due to bottles sitting in the sun before they make there way to us. Regardless, we have stuck with the Agua Pura (5 gallon jugs) because we are nervous as are most North Americans to drink tap water. We have heard the warnings about the tap water leading to kidney stones and general parasites such as Giardia, which we have had many times here, likely from poor sanitation in restaurants.
I guess the short answer is drink bottled water but please recycle! Or better yet if living here install a water purification system as it will be healthier, better for the planet and there will be no hassle to lug 5 gallon jugs around! Happy drinking!
What's the cost of homeowner's insurance in Panama?
Mike Vuytowecz - Inside Panama Real Estate
My homeowner’s insurance in Panama costs between US $300 and $400 per year. However, a lot of people do not have homeowner’s insurance. Also it is only required if you have a mortgage. Most of my clients pay cash. They sold their home wherever they are coming from and they come here to Panama, buy a house, and pay cash. Once you get the housing component out of the way, you could drastically reduce your overhead expenses here in Panama.
The house...
My homeowner’s insurance in Panama costs between US $300 and $400 per year. However, a lot of people do not have homeowner’s insurance. Also it is only required if you have a mortgage. Most of my clients pay cash. They sold their home wherever they are coming from and they come here to Panama, buy a house, and pay cash. Once you get the housing component out of the way, you could drastically reduce your overhead expenses here in Panama.
The house insurance here in Panama is just like anywhere else; it just costs a little bit less money. The only reason why you might choose not to get it is because since the houses here are made of block and steel, you won’t worry as much what could happen to it.
In the United States, most of the people that have a home, have a mortgage and it’s the bank that requires the insurance. Most people in the US would probably forego it as well if they didn’t have a mortgage because it’s expensive and it’s a bit restrictive when you’re going to need it. I am not an insurance expert but I think likely most of the claims are fire-related. In Panama this danger is pretty significantly reduced because of the block and steel homes.
What are the things I'll be most happily surprised by when moving or retiring abroad?
Mike Cobb - ECI Development
The thing I was most surprised about when I moved abroad was how much I loved it. It takes a pioneering spirit to move overseas voluntarily and living overseas gives me a sense of adventure almost every day.
There are easy things to mention too. Having a maid and gardener means no chores ever. Living overseas has given our family more quality free time to enjoy our time together.
The thing I was most surprised about when I moved abroad was how much I loved it. It takes a pioneering spirit to move overseas voluntarily and living overseas gives me a sense of adventure almost every day.
There are easy things to mention too. Having a maid and gardener means no chores ever. Living overseas has given our family more quality free time to enjoy our time together.
In the summer of 2015 a lady friend who had fallen in love with Ajijic in the Lake Chapala area years ago and wanted to get back there contacted me. Her vision was to run a bed and breakfast in the village, but she needed some assistance purchasing the property, so she contacted me to see if I’d be interested in an investment. After she had expounded upon the virtues of Ajijic through numerous phone calls I was intrigued to the point of flying down and meeting her...
Panamá is a 90% Catholic country, and follows "Jesus is the Reason for the Season". Based on this tradition it is customary that more than Christmas trees, Panamanians focus mainly in their Nativities at home.
Since childhood, you learn how to make your own Nativity (see the YouTube at the end of this post), and take pride in making the best one you can. Wherever you go in Panama, you see different...
Fútbol Americano is alive and well in Panamá. When my wife and I first arrived in Panamá we assumed soccer and baseball were the only popular sports in the country. That assumption changed one day when we were taking a power walk on the Amador Causeway. As we were heading back toward the Balboa Yacht Club, I noticed a familiar spherical object being tossed through the air on a field where soccer was usually played. My curiosity aroused, we...
What your neighbors would be like in the Lake Chapala / Ajijic area would of course, depend on where you live. Over all Lakeside (the area from Jocotepec to Chapala, including Ajijic), probably about 80% of the people or so are Mexicans, while only 20% or so are expats..png)
The going labor rate in Corozal for manual labor is about $40 BZ per day, which is $20 US. This is for when you’re providing the tools and materials and it’s not skilled labor. If they’re using their own tools you might get into $50 or $60 (US $25 or $30) a day. 
A reasonable private health insurance plan in Portugal would cost you between €40 to €60 (US $43.40 to $65.10 or £29 to £44) a month. If you go to a doctor, a regular consultation would cost you around €30 to €40 (US $33 to $44 or £22 to £29) after insurance. This cost is for people who are basically in good health and middle-aged. A full comprehensive insurance plan is about €60 (US $65 or £44) a month. €60 is the minimum.
My homeowner’s insurance in Panama costs between US $300 and $400 per year. However, a lot of people do not have homeowner’s insurance. Also it is only required if you have a mortgage. Most of my clients pay cash. They sold their home wherever they are coming from and they come here to Panama, buy a house, and pay cash. Once you get the housing component out of the way, you could drastically reduce your overhead expenses here in Panama. 
I moved abroad was how much I loved it. 
In the summer of 2015 a lady friend who had fallen in love with Ajijic in the Lake Chapala area years ago and wanted to get back there contacted me. Her vision was to run a bed and breakfast in the village, but she needed some assistance purchasing the property, so she contacted me to see if I’d be interested in an investment. After she had expounded upon the virtues of Ajijic through numerous phone calls I was intrigued to the point of flying down and meeting her...
follows "Jesus is the Reason for the Season". Based on this tradition it is customary that more than Christmas trees, Panamanians focus mainly in their Nativities at home. .png)
When my wife and I first arrived in Panamá we assumed soccer and baseball were the only popular sports in the country. That assumption changed one day when we were taking a power walk on the Amador Causeway. As we were heading back toward the Balboa Yacht Club, I noticed a familiar spherical object being tossed through the air on a field where soccer was usually played. My curiosity aroused, we...